This is probably the worst part of the year for me. I get a little depressed when the days start to get shorter, but that quickly gets sidetracked by the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas (and to a lesser extent New Year's). January 2nd is probably my least favorite day of the year, and it really isn't even close.

I've stumbled on what I hope is a local aberration. Parents, please help me out, if you can:

I've heard three independent stories of middle school to high school kids believing in Santa Claus, and it is perpetuated by their parents. We're not talking nut jobs that belong in a group home, but professionals and pillars of our community (seriously, a principal of the elementary school). The motto one parent says is "You must believe to receive." Several other parents in earshot agreed with this sentiment. My wife and I looked at each other like It was very odd...but I live in a small town in rural South Carolina that still has blue laws, shuts down on Wednesday nights for (Baptist) church, and so on.

For the record, my six and four year old are completely on board with Santa, but the oldest is beginning to ask questions such as how his uncle knew to get him earbuds for the iPod Santa brought the next day...

Yeah, I think by the time you are that age (9 to 11) it's not a huge deal when you find out he isn't real. And honestly, most kids at that age subconsciously or consciously start to realize it isn't real anyway. I'm 29 and I still enjoy watching movies about Santa Claus, so meh

I hate when people feel the need to kill things for kids. Imagination and wonderment is something once taken from a child they never get that part of there life back. Everybody is in such a rush to grow up.

I remember asking my mom why the gifts from Santa were all tagged in her handwriting. She replied that 'Santa is so busy on Christmas eve that he can't label the gifts himself, but leaves the parents a list of which gifts belong to whom.' So she helped Santa out by filling out the tags.

FreeCandy44 wrote:I hate when people feel the need to kill things for kids. Imagination and wonderment is something once taken from a child they never get that part of there life back. Everybody is in such a rush to grow up.

A woman I worked with told her daughter that Santa was a lie...and to tell all her friends...in kindergarten. She wanted her daughter to be the 'spreader of truth'.

I found out when I was 9 or 10. Parents had presents stacked in their room Christmas Eve. Door to their room wasn't closed, so when I ran upstairs to go to the bathroom before we left to go visiting, I saw the big stack.

However, to this day (almost 30 years later), my mom still labels her gifts from Santa. I'm good with that. :)

However, to this day (almost 30 years later), my mom still labels her gifts from Santa. I'm good with that.

My bedroom had a clear view of the tree and living room when I was a young lad. So I stole a look and saw mum and dad placing the presents under the tree. Oh well didn't ruin me. But I loved that room cause I got to "watch" a lot of Penguins games after bedtime

FreeCandy44 wrote:I hate when people feel the need to kill things for kids. Imagination and wonderment is something once taken from a child they never get that part of there life back. Everybody is in such a rush to grow up.

A woman I worked with told her daughter that Santa was a lie...and to tell all her friends...in kindergarten. She wanted her daughter to be the 'spreader of truth'. :face:

FreeCandy44 wrote:I hate when people feel the need to kill things for kids. Imagination and wonderment is something once taken from a child they never get that part of there life back. Everybody is in such a rush to grow up.

A woman I worked with told her daughter that Santa was a lie...and to tell all her friends...in kindergarten. She wanted her daughter to be the 'spreader of truth'.

The first time I told my parents that I didn't believe in Santa I was in the 4th or 5th grade. My parents insisted that there was a Santa. I told them I wasn't buying it. Rather than take me aside, tell me the truth and ask me to now be one of the 'adults' that keep the myth alive for my younger brother, they kept insisting there was a Santa.

On Christmas day, I got up, so excited to see my new bicycle under the tree. No presents from Santa for me, but presents for my siblings.

My parents told me that was because Santa didn't deliver presents to 'non-believers'.

What seemed like an hour later (It was probably after about 5 minutes), my Dad took me downstairs and there was my bicycle.

Don't do that to your kids. When they figure it out, they figure it out. No sense making them feel even worse.